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Social Media and Its Impact On The Productivity of College Students 1
Social Media and Its Impact On The Productivity of College Students 1
Serina Brown
Professor Castro
Engl 1301-281
9 Feb 2024
Abstract
The use of social media has rapidly increased in the last decade, especially among the
younger generations. Social media provides university students, in particular, with an easily
accessible platform to create, share, and watch content. It allows for quick social interactions
sans the need to be face-to-face with another person. On the other hand, research suggests that
social media may also have an addicting effect that leads to poor concentration, poor time
management, and, in consequence, low productivity levels. Additionally, social media gives
people quick, short-lived feelings of euphoria that can also be addicting and lead to dysphoria in
the absence of social media. Recently, a student who habitually spends about an hour to two
hours a day on social media set a limit on their phone for the recommended 30 minutes (Riehm
Kira et al.) for three days. The study draws a correlation between boundless social media use and
productivity levels.
Introduction
Humans are inherently social beings that rely on social interactions to survive and thrive.
Blacklinko reports that as of October 2023, the number of people using social media worldwide
was over 4.95 billion, approximately 61.4% of the world’s population. The same could be said
about the United States of America, where 90.9% of the population uses the internet, and 72.5%
of Americans use social media (Dean Brian). Furthermore, the average American checks their
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mobile device over 150 times and spends 2 hours and 24 minutes on social media daily. Popular
social media platforms in the United States in order of popularity are Facebook, Instagram,
While social media covers all age groups, Millennials and GenZ are the primary users.
This is to be expected, given the many ways social media can be utilized in education. For
example, students can use social media for collaborative learning, contacting professors, and
locating and sharing resources and materials. These social media applications can all positively
Regardless of the benefits, unrestricted social media use can damage students' academic
performance. For instance, social media propagates a form of anxiety in young people known as
the “fear of missing out” or FOMO. Social media sites build on this anxiety by luring users in
and compelling them to visit the platform consistently, even if it means neglecting their other
commitments (Bergman Matthew). This fear of being out of the loop keeps young people
checking their phones to ensure they are not missing out on trends or pop culture news.
Additionally, people use social media accounts to curate their highlight reels. People only post
the best or most exaggerated parts of their lives, and continuously seeing this content can compel
Lastly, most social media sites are designed to be addictive due to the seemingly endless
amounts of content. Doomscrolling, a term to describe endlessly scrolling, causes our brains to
produce high dopamine levels – the “feel good” chemical connected to enjoyable activities such
as eating food, earning money, and socializing. High dopamine levels are linked to anxiety,
excessive energy, sleeplessness, and hallucinations, whereas low dopamine levels correspond
with mood swings, brain fog, and muscle spasms (Dellwo Adrienne). Scrolling on social media
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activates the “reward center” in the brain, which releases dopamine and encourages people to
continue scrolling. While the obvious solution might be to “just put the phone down,” that is
much easier said than done. Because people get “addicted” to their phones, when they are not
able to use them, they will exhibit irritability, anxiety, and discomfort – similar to the symptoms
of withdrawal.
The conversation surrounding social media is very nuanced and should be handled
carefully. Attempts to frame social media as all “good” or all “bad” are irresponsible and fail to
encompass the bigger picture. How social media affects an individual or a group depends on
their behavior and attitude toward social media. Using a university student as a case study, this
paper presents findings on the link between social media usage and overall productivity. By
cutting their daily social media usage down from two hours to 30 minutes for three days, the
Experiment design
A student who typically spends at least two hours daily doom-scrolling was asked to limit
their social media usage to the recommended 30 minutes for three days. At the end of each day,
the student was to document changes in mood, productivity, and overall well-being. The student
was also to consider how much they socialized and how busy they were each day. Additionally,
noting any challenges or benefits experienced during the experiment provided valuable insights
into the impact of reduced social media usage. This experiment made the correlation between
Experiment results
Day 1
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The first day of the experiment was the most difficult. The student reported feeling
annoyed by the time limit in addition to constant boredom due to the lack of constant mental
stimulation. On the other hand, the student instantly noticed that they were sleeping better and
were more inclined to get work done. Because the student was aware of the time limit, they were
forced to be mindful of when they scrolled on social media. When boredom arose, they found
other ways to entertain themselves, such as reading, drawing, and talking with friends.
Day 2
On the second day, the student once again reported getting a good night's sleep and
feeling more productive. However, the boredom did persist, and it was found that the less social
interaction one has, the more one is compelled to scroll on one's phone. Likewise, the less the
student used their phone, the more they interacted with others. Additionally, the student had a
smaller workload on day two, so while they were productive when the work was done, they felt
Day 3
By the third day, the student had made some peace with the time limit and found other
ways to entertain themselves. However, the student did report feeling anxiety and “FOMO”
surrounding not being able to check their social media as often. They often felt as if they were
“falling behind” regarding trends and pop culture news. On a more positive note, productivity
Conclusion
When used responsibly, social media can be beneficial and positively impact a student’s
academic performance. However, excessive social media use can detrimentally impact moods
and productivity. The constant consumption of content often leads to unfavorable comparisons
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and triggers feelings of inadequacy. Additionally, the addictive nature of scrolling can contribute
to reduced focus and productivity. Finding a healthy balance is crucial; mindful social media
efficiency. Establishing boundaries can counteract undesirable effects and foster a healthier
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